Posted on 07/08/2009 6:55:10 AM PDT by flattorney
As a military officer for 30 years, I came to recognize the necessity of good leadership. When I retired from the military in 1998, I became active politically in the Republican Party. Since that time, I've been elected to two National Republican Conventions, acted as a military spokesperson for the Bush/Cheney campaign in 2004, and served as national veterans coordinator for Fred Thompson's presidential run. In 2007, I ran for Minnesota GOP party chair as a reform candidate, and lost. Over the years I have raised tens of thousands of dollars for GOP coffers, donated many thousands of dollars to local and national GOP candidates, worked many hours at the grass-roots level and been asked repeatedly to run for state or federal office by Minnesota GOP officeholders.
So why on Earth have I decided to leave the Minnesota GOP?
Simple: When a political party becomes so dysfunctional that it no longer can operate without tyrannical domination over the grass-roots, it is time to stop enabling bad behavior from that party. I have come to the conclusion that a majority of Minnesotans and many Republicans no longer trust the message of the Minnesota GOP. After years of ineffective party leadership resulting in a record number of defeats, lack of transparency in party dealings, alleged financial impropriety by former party employees, and numerous Federal Election Commission problems, can you really blame the electorate for abandoning the Minnesota GOP?
On June 13, the party continued its death spiral by electing the same failed leadership that has lost the last two elections. The "old guard" network of the GOP State Central Delegates continued to imitate lemmings gleefully following each other over the cliff to the political abyss below. Possibly the last chance to reform and re-energize the Minnesota GOP before the 2010 governor's race has been lost. For me, it was the last straw. I refuse to enable poor performance any longer. In my opinion, the new party leaders are rabid, power-hungry ideologues and the former attack dogs of the previous party chairman. They will not provide a message of inclusiveness or willingness to discuss contrary opinions. Honest, open and transparent party operations will not exist. The party is increasingly controlled by a small group of major financial donors and lobbyists who demand that their hand-picked people maintain the leadership positions. Most elected GOP politicians don't dare support reform out of fear of retribution. When lobbyist and corporate money has this type of stranglehold on a political party, fresh ideas and quality leadership fail to rise to the top.
The Minnesota GOP is no longer capable of competing. If you need further evidence, you only need to look at these two examples: the decision of Gov. Tim Pawlenty not to seek a third term and the decision of businessman Brian Sullivan, long thought to be the party's hand-picked successor to Pawlenty, of declining to run. I'm convinced both men, after watching the abandonment of Sen. Norm Coleman by principled conservatives and the debacle at last year's state GOP convention, where Ron Paul supporters were attacked and shouted down, have read the party tea leaves and decided the Minnesota GOP is so divided it is in no condition to contend in 2010.
After June 13, I came to the conclusion that the Minnesota GOP is no longer capable of being saved. My detractors will attack me, anonymously, or claim that I have hard feelings or that I'm just taking my ball and going home. Wrong — I'm only doing what thousands of Minnesota Republican voters have done over the last two elections; it just took me longer to pull the plug. Somewhere is a political party that is inclusive and wanting of seasoned political grass-roots talent. Somewhere there is a political party that will stand on principle, not radical partisanship. Somewhere there is a political party that isn't bought and paid for by large financial donors or special interests. There must be a party in need of fiscally conservative, principled individuals who will work for the people of Minnesota and not for the blind political ambition of a few. I encourage like-minded Republican voters to join me. I'm sure we'll find that new home.
Lt. Col. Joe Repya, of Eagan, is retired from the U.S. Army after 30 years of service that included Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
HAHHAHAHA. I was too lazy to type in the full “Republican” or I would have had to come up with another name. I got it from the bumper stickers I saw in the 64 election when I was a little kid.
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Again, these are considered famous last words . We conservatives hear that refrain about every two years in one form or another after we lose either as a party or as a faction. Like many others I've heard it for the umpteenth and last time. Things for conservatives within the Republican Party just continues to get worse and not better. I for one have a big callous on my noggin from banging my head against their door for far too long. It's time to stop doing that.
I’m glad you posted this! And have thought for quite a while about a new party. It seems a new party is doomed to fail.... if we were in normal times. But we aren’t. The people in this country are going to be looking for something solid and good...and if Sarah does form a new party...I’m not so sure that party will fail?
The Conservative Party is a good name. I also had been thinking for a while... The ‘New Republican Party’ name. The main reason is...the name is known..and many disgusted people with the GOP just might relate to the ‘refreshed’ name and more importantly...the change in how the party is run. (kinda like New England...instead of England)
Excuse me, but I don’t think you have a good measure of MN politics. The greatest frustration for any conservative in MN is finding a solid conservative that actually gets party support. Having been in lower levels (up to county level office and state delegate many times), I have witnessed party leaders advance and promote smoking bans, state health care, hate crimes legislation, gun control legislation, abortion and too many other policies that are anathema to conservatism, morality and traditional American ideals. In fact, I once witnessed Mark Johnson (Met Council and party hack extraordinaire)) argue with delegates in a heated fashion as to why we were selfish and short sighted in not endorsing a flaming leftist that had had years of ‘R’ support in campaigns. The candidate and Johnson left in a huff after delegates handed her a rejection. That was one small case in hundreds - time for a new vision, leadership and party. Let the dead bury the dead.
He went over in a completely voluntary capacity with special permission.
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